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PILC’s mission is to give all students the inspiration and information to incorporate
public service into their careers.
THE LLM
PUBLIC INTEREST
JOB SEARCH
HANDBOOK
2015-2016
(212) 998-6686
[email protected] – General Questions
[email protected] – Counseling Appointments
© New York University School of Law
Revised August 2015
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LLM Public Interest Job Search Handbook
I. INTRODUCTION 4 What is Public Interest Law? 4 What is the Public Interest Law Center (PILC) and how can it help me? 4 How can I decide whether public interest is right for me? 4 When should I start searching for public interest jobs? 5 What are the different types of public interest subject areas and practice settings? 5 Where can I go to learn more about specific practice areas? 7 When should I meet with a PILC counselor and what can I expect from the meeting? 7
I. THE PUBLIC INTEREST JOB SEARCH 8 What should I be doing now? 8 How should I plan a public interest job search? 8 Do I need to take the Bar Exam to work in public interest law? 9 How can I get a job with the UN? 9 What if I want to work in the U.S. after graduation? 11 How can I make myself more marketable to American employers? 11 Job Search Resources 11
II. NETWORKING 13 How should I approach my contacts? 13 What is an informational interview and what should I say / ask? 14 What if the person I contact does not respond? 15 What should I do after someone helps me? 15 How can I find people to network with? 15
III. RESUMES, COVER LETTERS, & INTERVIEWING 16 What should I include in a job application? 16 How can I learn more about resumes and cover letters? 17 How is a resume different from a CV? 17 What should I include in the public interest resume? 17 What should I include in the public interest cover letter? 18 What are some basic rules about resumes and cover letters? 19 What kind of references / recommendations do I need? 20 Will they want a transcript or writing sample? 20 How can I hone my interviewing skills? 21 How should I prepare for a job interview? 21 What is a behavioral interview? 21 How should I dress for an interview? 22 What are special tips for a telephone interview? 22 Should I ask about salary, hours, and benefits in an interview? 22 Should I send a thank you letter? 22
IV. FELLOWSHIPS & INTERNSHIPS 22 What is a post-graduate fellowship? 22 How can I find out about other fellowships and funding opportunities? 23 What Post-Graduate Fellowships does NYU offer for LLMs? 23
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What are the International Finance and Development Fellowships? 25 What are the International Law and Human Rights Fellowships? 25 What opportunities are available with the World Bank? 27 What steps should I take to apply for fellowships? 27 What is an internship and how can I get one? 28 Should I intern during the school year? 29 Should I intern after graduation or the bar exam? 29
V. PRO BONO SERVICE 29 What is pro bono work? 29 What are the Pro Bono Requirements for the NY State Bar? 29 How will I get credit for the hours I complete? 30 What resources does NYU provide for finding pro bono opportunities and tracking hours? 30 How do I know which pro bono placements are right for me? 31 How do I apply for pro bono placements? 31 Are there any other things I should know about pro bono work? 32
APPENDIX A: PILC COUNSELOR BIOS 33
APPENDIX B: SAMPLE RESUME AND COVER LETTER 37
APPENDIX C: SAMPLE PRO BONO COVER LETTER AND FOLLOW UP EMAIL 39
APPENDIX D: WEBSITES FOR INTERNATIONAL JOB SEARCHES 41
APPENDIX E: WEBSITES FOR DOMESTIC JOB SEARCHES 44
APPENDIX F: TIPS FOR USING PSJD 46
APPENDIX G: “OMIT SURPLUS WORDS” 47
APPENDIX H: LLM NETWORKING HANDOUT 56
APPENDIX I: SELECTED NYU LLMS IN PUBLIC INTEREST LAW 58
APPENDIX J: STATE BAR ELIGIBILITY CHART 61
APPENDIX K: UN NATIONAL COMPETITIVE RECRUITMENT EXAM: LIST OF COUNTRIES PARTICIPATING IN 2015 66
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I. Introduction
What is Public Interest Law?
At the Public Interest Law Center (PILC) and NYU School of Law, we use the terms “public
interest” and “public service” interchangeably, to mean work that is pursued on the basis of
individual or group concepts of justice, fairness, and advancement of the public good, rather than
for commercial or personal gain. It is a deliberately broad definition, one that encompasses
working in government and inter-governmental institutions, non-profit organizations, and pro
bono work at law firms.
What is the Public Interest Law Center (PILC) and how can it help me?
NYU School of Law teaches graduates that a law degree carries with it a responsibility to society
to engage in public service and pro bono work throughout their career. To this end, the Law
School has built strong clinical programs, offered courses in public interest law, sponsored
student organizations that conduct pro bono work, hosted speakers, developed public service
career counseling programs, and supported a myriad of pro bono opportunities. In 1992, NYU
Law created PILC.
Since then, PILC has become a national model for the promotion of public service. PILC and its
staff are here to help you whether you are seeking advice on job opportunities, public service
internships, pro bono opportunities, course selection, extra-curricular activities, or other
questions related to public interest work. In addition, PILC sponsors various educational
programs, such as the Leaders in Public Interest Series, which enables NYU Law students to
hear from and interact with distinguished members of the public interest field.
PILC has prepared this Job Search Handbook as a guide to help you plan a public service career.
Additionally, a wide range of job search information and materials are available on the PILC
website, http://www.law.nyu.edu/publicinterestlawcenter/, especially our Online Library,
http://www.law.nyu.edu/publicinterestlawcenter/forstudents/career-resources-for-llms, and
through the Public Service Jobs Directory (PSJD), accessible at www.psjd.org.
How can I decide whether public interest is right for me?
Public interest law is a fascinating and rewarding field. Working in public interest law means
devoting your skills to the principles that draw many people to study law in the first place, such
as access to justice, equality, and the protection of vulnerable and marginalized communities.
If you are drawn to public interest law, the next question is whether you want to work in the field
full-time. Public interest lawyers typically earn substantially less than those at law firms or in
the private sector. Yet public interest jobs are often harder to get, since public interest lawyers
are typically motivated more by their commitment to a cause than by financial remuneration. If
you are passionate about issues of social justice, working full-time in public interest law may be
ideal for you.
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Even if you decide to work in the private sector after your LLM, there are many ways for you to
contribute to the public interest. Many law firms and corporations have large, active pro bono
programs. Lawyers do pro bono work by representing clients, participating in bar associations,
and providing technical assistance to developing countries, to name just a few examples. In
addition, many attorneys start their careers in the private sector and later transition to public
interest.
PILC counselors are happy to help you think through these issues, and decide on the best path for
you.
When should I start searching for public interest jobs?
Public interest employers hire according to their own budgets and needs; the timetable differs for
each employer. Some fortunate students will receive fellowships and job offers by winter, but
most wait until job openings are posted in the spring. Many LLM students continue searching
for jobs after graduation, and some do volunteer internships after graduation to build their
resumes and help position themselves to get paid work in the future.
Though the job search can be challenging, don’t be discouraged; many LLM students have
succeeded in obtaining interesting and rewarding public interest jobs. To maximize your
chances, we recommend that you start building contacts, networking, and taking advantage of
opportunities to perform pro bono work as early as possible, including during your LLM year.
What are the different types of public interest subject areas and practice
settings?
Public interest includes many subject areas, ranging from community economic development to
children’s rights to criminal justice to the environment. Listed below are the major public interest
practice settings.
International Public Interest Work – The type of work varies widely, as do the settings in
which attorneys practice – and many do not practice law at all in a strict sense, but rather use
their law degrees to do policy or law-related work. Many international employers seek
candidates with proficiency in at least two languages. Opportunities fall into the following types
of organizations:
Inter-Governmental Organizations (IGOs) – (including the UN system, Inter-American
agencies, European agencies, multi-lateral development banks, etc.) – IGOs frequently hire
lawyers for international legal positions and for other programmatic positions. However, the
hiring processes of these large bureaucracies are not always transparent. (See below for
more information on hiring by the UN and IGOs.)
Government Agencies – (U.S. State Department, foreign ministries, and international
development / cooperation agencies) - Virtually every government hires lawyers to work in
international relations, on issues ranging from diplomacy to human rights to development.
Some are hired as attorneys and others in non-legal foreign or civil servant positions. Most
governments have exams or formal recruiting programs, and only hire their nationals. Some
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smaller countries, however, occasionally hire foreign attorneys to work as legal advisors to
their embassies abroad (including UN missions in New York).
Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) – There are two main kinds of NGOs:
international NGOs that work in multiple countries, and local NGOs that work mainly in the
country where they are based. NGOs (and NYU Law graduates who work with them) work
on an incredible array of issues including human rights, refugees, conflict resolution,
environmental protection, economic development, and more. Open positions can be scarce,
as most NGOs tend to hire only when they have a vacancy. A few international NGOs have
annual fellowship programs. Hiring practices at NGOs vary widely depending on their size
(which can range from a few volunteers to hundreds of professional staff), location and
budget. As a general rule, however, NGOs tend to hire people who have demonstrated a
commitment to their work through internships or past work experience.
Alternatives to Traditional Public Interest Lawyering – Alternatives to IGOs, government
agencies and NGOs include economic development, think tanks, alternative dispute
resolution, and foundation work.
Domestic Public Interest Work – Opportunities for public interest legal work vary substantially
from country to country. Within the United States, public interest law encompasses several main
categories of work. Jobs in U.S.-based public interest organizations can be very difficult to get.
Foreign-trained LLM students must usually become admitted to the bar in the state where they
wish to work (see Appendix J for information on eligibility to sit for state bar exams) and have
some relevant work experience to be competitive. Many domestic organizations are not able to
sponsor work permits for foreign lawyers.
Impact Organizations – These organizations focus on law reform efforts in one or more
specialty areas, or advocate on behalf of a particular group of people. Typically, these
offices prefer that applicants have a few years of legal experience in the U.S. before applying
for a permanent position.
Civil Legal Services – These organizations represent individuals who cannot afford an
attorney. These positions involve significant client contact, so employers tend to look for
people who have experience working with indigent communities. Again, U.S. practice
experience is often required or strongly preferred.
Death Penalty Resource Centers – These organizations represent death row inmates in
appeals of capital convictions. In-depth knowledge of U.S. criminal and appeals procedure is
a must.
Public Defenders – Funded by the government and located throughout the country, these
offices represent indigent defendants in criminal cases.
Prosecuting Attorneys – The U.S. Attorney offices prosecute federal cases. District
Attorneys, which prosecute local cases, are organized by state or county. Many prosecutors
require U.S. citizenship.
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Federal Agencies – These are U.S. government offices that address certain areas of federal
law and/or represent the federal government in legal matters (e.g. Department of Health and
Human Services, Securities and Exchange Commission, Environmental Protection Agency).
Federal agencies require U.S. citizenship and employees must obtain a security clearance.
State and Local Agencies – These agencies specialize in particular areas of state or local
government (such as Social Services, Environmental Conservation, Attorney General, etc.).
Typically, each agency has its own legal staff. They tend to hire people who have a
connection to the state.
Capitol Hill and State Legislatures – Attorneys work on Capitol Hill and in state
legislatures as legislative assistants in individual parliamentarians’ offices or as staff
attorneys for committees.
Labor Unions – Almost all national and international unions have a central legal department.
Public Interest Law Firms – These are typically small firms specializing in public interest
law areas (employment discrimination, labor law, police brutality, family law, immigration,
civil rights, etc.) on the plaintiff side or that work with an underrepresented group.
Where can I go to learn more about specific practice areas?
Check out the NYU International Public Interest Handbook, available on the PILC website, and
International Public Interest Law, an excellent handbook published by Yale Law School,
available at
http://www.law.yale.edu/documents/pdf/CDO_Public/2012_body_of_guide_PUBLIC_.pdf.
There is also an extensive range of resources available on the Public Service Jobs Directory
website, www.psjd.org/resource_center, covering both domestic and international practice areas.
In addition, Appendix D (international) and Appendix E (domestic U.S.) have links to numerous
other helpful websites.
When should I meet with a PILC counselor and what can I expect from the
meeting?
You can schedule an appointment with a PILC counselor at any time during your LLM and may
continue to meet with a counselor after graduation. PILC counselors will discuss your
experience and goals, will help you refine and plan your job search, and will review your
resume.
The appointment will be most productive if you do some initial research on organizations that
interest you beforehand. If you are interested in international public interest opportunities, you
should schedule an appointment with Associate Director Miriam Ingber (or, over the Fall,
Miriam Eckenfels-Garcia). Biographies of the all PILC counselors appear in Appendix A. You
can send an email to [email protected] to schedule an appointment.
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Before your counseling session, we ask that you:
1) Register with the Career Services Manager (CSM) powered by Symplicity and make sure you
check off public interest in your profile, because PILC uses it to communicate with students by
email regarding notices of opportunities, deadlines, and other information.
2) Register on PSJD at www.psjd.org and do an “organization list” search to get a list of
organizations that you may be interested in (see Appendix F for instructions).
3) Prepare a draft of your resume using the handbook distributed by the Office of Career
Services (OCS) and email it to [email protected] before your appointment.
II. The Public Interest Job Search
What should I be doing now?
There are a number of steps you can take while you are here that may complement your studies.
We realize that this can be overwhelming, especially during the Fall semester as you start your
LLM year. Any of these efforts you take are helpful, and the more you can fit in, the better your
chances of securing post-graduate employment.
Think about what you want to do. Figure out your dream job and also a palatable back-
up plan.
Keep your CSM and PSJD profiles current.
Take advantage of opportunities to complete pro bono work during your LLM year. You
can meet with David Glasgow, Associate Director and Research Fellow, to discuss pro
bono placements, or apply for placements listed on CSM. This is a good way to get your
foot in the door at a public interest organization and build U.S. experience to place on
your resume for the post-graduation job search. It will also help you satisfy the pro bono
requirement for admission to the New York State Bar (see section VI of this Handbook).
Research fellowships and funding opportunities beginning in the Fall semester and apply
for any that appeal to you and that you are qualified for (see section V of this Handbook).
Make sure to check for early application deadlines.
Get involved in student groups like Law Students for Human Rights and the International
Law Society. In addition to being a great way to meet other students with similar
interests, this will look impressive on your resume.
Apply to be a research assistant for a professor. You will earn some money, add another
job to your resume, and develop a good relationship with the professor—which may, in
turn, lead to a recommendation for a job.
Consider doing an internship (see below for more details).
Network! (see section III of this Handbook).
How should I plan a public interest job search?
Before you begin your job search, it helps to take time to reflect and identify your interests,
goals, and requirements. Consider where you want to be, what type of work environment you
enjoy, and what type of law you would like to explore. Some questions to ask are:
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Where do I want to be geographically? To go home? To work in a developing country?
Where am I eligible to become qualified as an attorney?
o Be sure to consider both short-term and long-term objectives, e.g. some students
want to work in a developing country for a few years, and then settle in their
home country or elsewhere.
Do I want to work mainly in an office or out in the field? Do I prefer sitting at a
computer all day or dealing with people? Working with indigent clients or communities
or mainly with other professionals?
Do I want to litigate? If so, in what kind of courts?
Do I want to do strictly legal work, or do I want to use my law degree to work on broader
issues like conflict resolution or development policy?
Am I interested in community education and organizing?
Do my current interests and background lead to any particular area of law?
What legal and/or work related experiences have been particularly enjoyable?
The answers to these questions will establish some major boundaries within which to search for a
job, and evaluating the types of practice areas available should become a bit easier.
Do I need to take the Bar Exam to work in public interest law?
It depends on the type of job and where you will be located. If you intend to practice law in the
United States, you will need to take the bar exam in the state where you work. Even if you do
not practice law (e.g., a research or policy position) or you intend to work abroad, taking the
New York State Bar Exam is viewed favorably by some employers. PILC counselors would be
happy to speak with you about this.
If you take the New York State Bar Exam, you will need to complete at least 50 hours of eligible
pro bono work to be admitted as an attorney. See this link for more details of the rule and the
types of pro bono work that count
(http://www.law.nyu.edu/publicinterestlawcenter/forstudents/pro-bono-opportunities-for-LLMs),
and please contact David Glasgow, Associate Director and Research Fellow, if you have any
questions about fulfilling the requirement. Think of the 50-hour pro bono requirement as a good
opportunity to experience public interest law in the United States first-hand. Aside from the
altruistic benefits of performing pro bono work, you will strengthen your U.S. knowledge and
skills, build contacts, and expand your resume for your public interest job search.
How can I get a job with the UN?
There is no single path to get into the UN or other IGOs. There are several main ways that
people get hired, but none should be considered a sure thing. The best advice we can give is that
it takes persistence and creativity, with a measure of luck and being in the right place (and
knowing the right people) at the right time. You will find links to some of the programs
mentioned below as well as agency job-sites in Appendix D. When applying, it is best to both go
through formal channels listed on the organization’s website, and also to network within the
organization to make sure they actually consider your application (and to see if there are any
other openings).
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Most agencies recruit interns, some through volunteer programs and others with paid internships.
IGOs typically have a rule that interns cannot be hired as employees in the six months following
completion of their internships. We recommend pursuing possible internships nonetheless,
though, as they can still help position you to get a paid job later. Interning is a great way to get
to know the agencies, prove yourself to potential employers, build your resume, and make
contacts.
Many UN agencies and IGOs have organized entry-level programs for “young” and “junior”
professionals. These include programs for young lawyers, and others for law-related positions
that focus on development, human rights, refugee protection, etc. Some involve competitive
exams, others are simply application processes.
Young Professional Programs – YPPs are entry-level jobs – often 2-year contracts – at
various IGOs (e.g., UN Secretariat organizations, UNESCO, UNICEF, UNHCR, certain
development banks, World Bank, OECD, FAO). These positions often have age limits,
strict language and experience requirements, and can be limited to citizens of certain
countries, usually under-represented member states. These programs are extremely
competitive, and the process can be lengthy. For example, the competitive examination
process for the UN Secretariat YPP can take up to 2 years.
Junior Professional Officer / Associate Expert Programs – JPOs/AEs are sponsored
by certain member states of an IGO. The United States participates in a number of
JPO/AE programs, including with the UN Secretariat organizations, the Food and
Agriculture Organization, the International Atomic Energy Agency, the International
Organization for Migration, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees and the World
Food Program. Positions are advertised on an ad hoc basis, and these programs are very
competitive.
UN Volunteer Program – For those interested in the UN, the UNV program is an
excellent entry point. Volunteers frequently work in development assistance,
peacekeeping and humanitarian positions in developing countries. Despite its name, UNV
positions can be relatively lengthy (6 months or more) and participants receive a
generous stipend and other benefits.
Outside of these formal channels, IGOs often hire professionals on a fixed-term or short-term
contract basis. Networking is the best – and often the only – way to find out about these
opportunities. Contract and consultant positions are not always posted on their websites (and,
conversely, jobs posted on their sites are not always really available – sometimes they have to
post them even if they have an internal candidate in mind). After obtaining an initial contract
position, it becomes easier to secure further opportunities.
Also look out for the International Finance and Development (IFD) Fellowships offered through
NYU, which offer opportunities for LLM students to complete paid fellowships with certain
IGOs (generally 10 to 12 weeks) after the completion of the LLM program. Applications for the
IFD Fellowships are due November 2, 2015, and an information session will be held on October
13, 2015. (See Section V below for more information.)
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What if I want to work in the U.S. after graduation?
If you are a foreign trained LLM, now is the time to decide how long you intend to work in the
United States. If you plan to be in the U.S. for a year or less, you should consider applying for
fellowships, grants, and volunteer opportunities. If you are seeking paid employment, it may be
a challenge to persuade a public interest employer to invest its resources in you if you do not
have relevant experience or if you are not committed to the organization for the long term.
Check to see where you are eligible to sit for the bar exam and what you need to do to apply to
take the exam. Requirements vary state by state in the U.S., and you may need to apply several
months in advance. (See Appendix J for eligibility state-by-state.)
It can be difficult, or in some circumstances impossible, to get public interest employers to
sponsor a work visa, so be sure to investigate your visa requirements as well. PILC counselors
can help you think about how to broach visa sponsorship with potential employers, but we are
not qualified to give you visa advice.
How can I make myself more marketable to American employers?
As a foreign-trained lawyer, you have many things to offer American employers: you may have
years of prior legal experience, contacts from abroad, and foreign language skills. On the other
hand, many American employers tend to focus on recruiting JD graduates for their background
and experience in the U.S. context. You will need to work harder and be more strategic in order
to persuade them to hire you.
The best way to make yourself marketable is to get your foot in the door, so that potential
employers can see your knowledge and skills for themselves, and so that you can build American
contacts to act as references for you. Ways of getting in the door include completing a Clinic in
your LLM program, a pro bono placement, or an internship. To this end, network and build
contacts as much as possible throughout your LLM year; apply for pro bono opportunities and
NYU Law Clinics offered to LLM students; and reach out to your Professors for contacts and
recommendations for job opportunities. You should also choose courses in your LLM that
demonstrate you have the substantive knowledge to work in the organization’s field. Domestic
American employers are unlikely to view experience in a particular area in a foreign country
(such as labor law) as giving you sufficient knowledge and grounding, on its own, to practice in
the equivalent field in the United States.
American employers recruiting for domestic lawyers want to know that you have equivalent
ability to a JD graduate. So ensure that your cover letters and resume conform to American
expectations; highlight knowledge and skills that transcend national boundaries; and emphasize
features that set you apart in a positive way (e.g. foreign language skills or cultural knowledge
relevant to the employer’s work). We also encourage you to meet with a PILC counselor for a
mock interview so that you can be prepared for differences in interview style and format as
compared with your home country. More information on cover letters and resumes is set out in
section IV of this Handbook.
Job Search Resources
Once you begin to look for a post-graduate job, identify the resources you will regularly consult
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to obtain current job listings. A number of websites will allow you to create a profile that
facilitates a listing of jobs to be automatically e-mailed to you. See Appendix D for a list of
international web sites for job searches and Appendix E for a list of web sites for domestic jobs.
Public Service Jobs Directory. PSJD is a near-comprehensive database of public interest
organizations and opportunities in the U.S., and some around the world. To access the database,
register at www.psjd.org. You may use the database while you are in law school and after you
graduate. You can search the database by geographical region, type of organization, and practice
area.
If you would like to receive e-mails informing you of job listings that match your interests,
submit a personal profile. PSJD will then automatically send you notices of opportunities that
match the criteria you submit. See Appendix F below.
CSM/Symplicity (https://law-nyu-csm.symplicity.com/students/). Because PILC uses the
Symplicity system to communicate with you by email, it is important for you to register.
Remember to check off public interest and keep your personal profile updated. You will also
find internship and other job opportunities posted here.
The PILC Website. The PILC web page,
http://www.law.nyu.edu/publicinterestlawcenter/forstudents/career-resources-for-llms, has pages
of links for international and domestic public interest jobs.
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III. Networking
When my PILC counselor suggested I contact Leora, I was a little hesitant and certainly
had no idea how helpful and informative she would be. As I have always been cautious
and uncomfortable with the idea of “networking” or reaching out to people I had not met
personally, it is especially important for me to share how (unexpectedly) rewarding (and
fruitful!) reaching out to her was. And of course, when I start my summer internship in
Tel Aviv this summer, I know I will have already made a friend.
-- Quote from a first-year JD student
Very simply, networking is the process of using
people to gain information; it is valuable both in
finding out about opportunities and in securing a job.
Networking is helpful for any job search, but it is
especially important if you decide to look for jobs in
a subject matter or geographic area that you are not
familiar with. Your network will also come in very
handy professionally once you start working.
Please don’t assume that networking is not necessary for you. Some countries do not rely on
networking as much as the United States, and you may not have needed it to secure a job in your
home country before the LLM, but it is very important if you are seeking work in the United
States or in international public interest law abroad. Some studies show that as many as 70% of
jobs are obtained through networking! And when you think about it you really have nothing to
lose – the worst that can happen is they don’t respond.
If you feel uncomfortable about networking or find it difficult to adjust to the cultural style of
how networking is conducted in the United States, don’t worry! Many people are in the same
boat as you, and the good news is that networking gets easier with practice.
How should I approach my contacts?
Think in terms of building relationships. Never ask someone to get you a job. Let them know
what you are interested in, ask them about their job and the path that brought them there, and get
their advice on how to break into their line of work. Most people like to talk about their work
and even busy people can spare ten minutes.
The best approach is usually to send a short email introducing yourself and ask if they would be
willing to spend 10-15 minutes speaking with you by phone to discuss their field of work. Be
sure to mention how you found the person. Attach your resume for the person’s reference, but
remember—you are not asking for a job, but simply for advice. For example:
Dear Ms. Hernandez,
I am a Chilean attorney and a current student in the LLM program at NYU School of
Law. The NYU Public Interest Law Center recommended that I contact you to discuss
my interest in international development. I have a background in fair trade and have been
Everybody does it, so don’t worry!
Although it may seem intimidating,
networking is really just a non-
threatening way to share information.
Think of it like a cocktail party without
the cocktails.
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conducting research into economic development issues in my courses at NYU. I wonder
if you might be willing to take ten or fifteen minutes to speak with me by phone about
your career and work at the World Trade Organization? If so, please let me know a few
good times to reach you. I have attached my resume for your reference.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Sincerely,
Benjamin
Before you call or meet someone, it is a good idea to prepare an introduction. This should be
about 30 seconds long and include key details to set the context – that you are an NYU Law
student, how you got their name, and what you are interested in. You may also want to tell them
a little more about yourself, for example if you have done relevant work before or during law
school. End the introduction with a question about their work and career path; remember, the art
of conversation is asking questions. Practice your introduction so you feel – and sound –
confident! If on the phone, pay attention to speed and volume of your speech, and be sure to
sound upbeat.
What is an informational interview and what should I say / ask?
An informational interview is basically a conversation with someone where you have a chance to
ask them about the field they work in. Many employers are happy to hold informational
interviews, since the term implies that you are not asking them for a job per se, you only want
information. They are a great way for students to learn about the field and to make contacts at
the same time – employers will be very impressed that you took the initiative to reach out to
them, and take this as a sign that you are committed to the field. Remember to be confident and
upbeat during an informational interview.
Some good questions include:
Please tell me about your career path.
What do you like best about your work?
What are some of the challenges?
What is a typical day like?
What advice do you have for someone like me who would like to pursue a career in your
field?
Do you know of any organizations that might need interns or be hiring in the coming
months?
Always ask who else you should contact before you end the conversation. Next, you can contact
those people and you will already be able to name drop and point to a connection when you
contact them. (E.g. “Janice Kim at the United Nations suggested I contact you. I am currently
an LLM at NYU Law and I am very interested in international criminal law…”)
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What if the person I contact does not respond?
Don’t worry! In most cases, if someone does not respond it is usually simply because they are
too busy. You should not take this personally – they can’t have something against you when
they have never even met you. If you really want to talk to them, try once more. In your next
email, it may help to acknowledge that they are very busy and let them know that you would be
grateful if they can speak with you for just a few moments, or ask them who else you should
contact if they do not have time to talk to you. If they still don’t respond, then so be it – you’ll
just have to move on to other contacts.
What should I do after someone helps me?
Don’t forget to thank people who have helped you. If you talk on the phone, a short thank you
email is sufficient. However, if someone spends more than an hour with you (such as over a
lunch break), it is nice to send a handwritten note.
Also, follow up on their advice! Stay in touch, and they will let you know when they are hiring
or know of a job for you. Check in periodically by sending key contacts a brief email message
updating them about your career—where you are working over the summer, how your summer
internship went, etc.
How can I find people to network with?
Many students, when they put their minds to it, realize that they already know lots of people to
network with. You’ll also have opportunities to meet – and network with – lots more people at
NYU Law. We encourage you to make the most of it!
Who do you know? Don’t be shy about contacting current and past employers, college
professors, relatives, family friends, and friends of friends! Even if you know them in a
social context, it’s ok to talk about work. And if you feel awkward since you haven’t been in
touch for a while, dropping a note to let them know what you have been doing and that
you’ve started law school is a great way to bridge that gap.
Faculty: Many NYU faculty have excellent connections in their fields. Talk to them - they
really do want to help you and will enjoy getting to know you. They are sometimes
contacted by employers looking to hire students or recent graduates and they can only help
you if they know what you are looking for.
Speakers on campus: Dozens of public interest lawyers come to speak at the Law School
every year, many of them NYU alumni, and they usually appreciate meeting students
interested in their work when they are here.
NYU Public Interest Legal Career Fair: Representatives of 200 public interest employers
will be here in February – so take advantage! At Table Talk in Greenberg and Golding
Lounges, their sole purpose is to network with you.
NYU alumni: NYU alumni work in public interest organizations throughout the country and
the world and many are eager to help students. A select list of alumni from the NYU LLM
program, who now work in public interest, is located in Appendix I. Each of them has
agreed to be listed there in case current LLM students are interested in their career path. You
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can also ask a PILC counselor for help identifying alumni working in your areas of interest,
or search for NYU alumni on LinkedIn.com. To that end, join the PILC group on LinkedIn
and also the NYU Law Alumni group.
Other lawyers from your home country working in NY or in the same field can also be a
great resource. Don’t feel shy about contacting family friends who may have relevant jobs or
contacts. Talk to the legal adviser or a diplomat at your country’s embassy (in NY or
mission to the UN). Remember that connections with government officials in your home
country can be a big help if they are willing to put a word in for you when you apply to inter-
governmental organizations or to government positions.
It is more difficult, but you can also network with people you don’t know personally or who
don’t necessarily have an NYU connection. Here are a few ways to identify people to network
with:
Join bar associations, thematic organizations or other professional groups. Most of them
have discounted student rates and their members are usually eager to help law students.
Becoming a student member of a bar association is an excellent way to increase your
knowledge and make contacts. Membership entitles you to various benefits, including the
opportunity to be appointed as a student member of a committee, and look good on your
resume.
Association of the Bar of the City of New York, www.abcny.org, $50 LLM student
memberships (but most events are free and open to the public)
New York State Bar Association, www.nysba.org, free for NY State law students
New York County Lawyers’ Association, www.nycla.org, $30 student memberships
Attend conferences and seminars on issues you are studying or interested in - and stay for the
coffee break, luncheon, and / or reception. This is a great way to get to know others
interested in the same topics. Get their business cards and send them an email to follow up –
if only to tell them you enjoyed meeting them.
For example, attend International Law Weekend in New York November 5-7 (see
http://ila-americanbranch.org/Intl_Law_Wknd.aspx for details)
When all else fails, look at the staff list on an organization’s website or check who is quoted
on a particular topic in news articles, and try writing to someone you don’t know at all. Tell
them how you found their name or what interests you in their organization – they will
probably be impressed – and flattered – that you went to so much effort to find them.
IV. Resumes, cover letters, & Interviewing
What should I include in a job application?
Once you have determined the type of practice and geographic area in which you wish to work,
the next step is to compile credentials, research potential employers, and make contact with
them.
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Job applications typically include a well-drafted cover letter and resume (similar to a CV). The
resume, with the cover letter, presents you to potential employers as a suitable candidate for a
position. It will also be the basis for your interviews; the resume is generally used as a
“conversation starter” during an interview. In some situations, the resume and cover letter may
be the only example of your written work that the hiring organization ever sees.
How can I learn more about resumes and cover letters?
PILC recommends that you consult the OCS publication, the “LLM Job Search Resources
Handbook” for a general overview of the job search process and of the many services offered to
job seekers by OCS. This Public Interest Handbook is intended to build on the OCS publication
and to present additional guidelines for public interest searches.
PILC counselors will be happy to help you work on your resume and cover letters before you
send them to potential employers. However, we ask that you first read through this and the OCS
handbook and that you put your resume into NYU format before scheduling your appointment.
How is a resume different from a CV?
A resume is a summary of your education and employment that highlights your best qualities.
The main objective of your resume is to convince an employer to hire you. A resume is often
shorter and more compact than a CV; your resume should probably be only one or one and a half
pages long, although public interest resumes can go onto two pages if you have significant work
experience or a number of publications. Resumes do not include photos or personal information
such as age or marital status.
A resume is often skimmed, not read. A successful resume is neat, well-organized, quickly
highlights the skills and experiences you want to market, and guides the employer to your
strengths during an interview. Resumes are organized in reverse chronological order. Make sure
that your resume is concise, error free, easy to read, and has consistent formatting (believe it or
not, sometimes people do not get an interview because of a typo in their resume). It is also a
good idea to ask a colleague - or a PILC counselor - to proofread your resume, as it is often
easier to spot mistakes with a fresh set of eyes.
Certain countries have different conventions about cover letters and resumes, such as appropriate
length and level of detail to include. PILC staff are mainly familiar with practices of American
organizations, which are common in many international organizations as well. However, if you
are interested in a particular job market, you should also find out if different customs apply there.
What should I include in the public interest resume?
The public interest resume is similar in many respects to any other resume. However, in addition
to listing your education, skills, and experience, the public interest resume should demonstrate
your commitment to the field. Your enthusiasm for public interest can come across through your
academic accomplishments, previous jobs, volunteer experiences, internships, and any other
relevant experiences. Choose strong, active verbs in the descriptions of your experience, such as
“drafted,” “presented,” “coordinated,” and “researched” (rather than vague descriptions like
“assisted” or “involved in”). Some resumes focus on clients that were served to demonstrate the
skill of working with a particular client base. See Appendix B for an example LLM resume.
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Consider highlighting:
public service employment
functional skills (research, organizing, client interviewing, drafting, analysis, oral
advocacy, negotiation, etc.)
experience in substantive areas
volunteer and pro bono work
clinical experience at NYU Law
professional and public service affiliations
bar admissions / where you are qualified to practice
language skills
publications
What should I include in the public interest cover letter?
The cover letter provides prospective employers with their first exposure to you and thus, like
your resume, it should demonstrate your commitment to (or interest in) public service and the
work of the employer. A successful cover letter is addressed to a particular person, starts with an
introductory paragraph that identifies you and the position you seek, continues with one or two
paragraphs that describe your qualifications, skills and interests, and concludes with an invitation
to contact you. In the cover letter, it is also important for students to demonstrate that they know
something about the work of the organization. You can then discuss how your skills fit the
organization’s needs. Do not forget to include an email, address, and telephone number where
you can be reached! A cover letter should usually fit on one page. See Appendix B for an
example.
Address your cover letter to the hiring attorney or recruiter by name if you know who he or she
is. Otherwise, you can use general forms of address, such as “To whom it may concern” or
“Dear Hiring Committee.”
In the introductory paragraph, identify yourself and the specific position you seek. Mention how
you learned of the position or organization; if you have a personal contact who recommended
that you apply, mention this too.
The second paragraph (and sometimes a third) should demonstrate why the employer should hire
you. This need not be chronological. Rather you should synthesize your past experiences to
demonstrate that you have the skills they seek. Have you worked in similar situations before?
What prior experiences have helped you develop useful, relevant skills? Have you written
papers or taken courses on topics relevant to their work? Don’t merely restate what is listed on
your resume; the cover letter is an opportunity to analyze how your experience is useful for this
particular employer and to reflect your personal involvement and enthusiasm with the subject
area. For example, instead of “In 2014, I worked as a judge’s clerk at the Constitutional Court of
South Africa, where I conducted research and drafting,” consider: “While serving as a judge’s
clerk at the Constitutional Court of South Africa, I honed my skills in research and drafting, and
developed a passion for indigenous rights.” It is essential to demonstrate that you have
knowledge of, commitment to, and interest in the issues the employer works on.
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The final paragraph is the conclusion. If you are responding to an open position, the conclusion
should state your interest in arranging an interview to discuss the position, and how they can
contact you. (After you have submitted a cover letter and resume, if you do not hear back from
the prospective employer within two or three weeks, you should follow up.)
If you have sent a letter of interest without knowledge of an open position, then you should
indicate the action you will take to follow up with the contact person to make sure that your
resume and cover letter were received, for example that you will call their office in two weeks.
Common pitfalls to avoid
The most common mistake students make when writing cover letters is describing only why the
job would be perfect for them but not how you can contribute to their mission. Rather than
discussing how a job with the employer fits into your goals, you should use the cover letter to
explain how you can help them. You need to describe the qualifications, skills, and interests that
make you stand out.
Some employers, especially in the U.S., are not used to hiring LLM students and some may not
know what the LLM is. If you think this might be the case for a particular employer, you should
include some language to set them at ease – by explaining that you are already a qualified
attorney and are doing an additional masters in law, or that you are planning to sit for the
relevant bar exam (if you are eligible).
What are some basic rules about resumes and cover letters?
General Tips
Proofread every document – do not rely solely on spell check, as it does not catch every
mistake.
If English is not your first language, have a native English speaker proofread them again.
If applying to an American employer, try to make your application as “American” as you
can. While you should of course include experience that you have gained overseas, you
should bring to the forefront any knowledge and skills you have developed in the U.S.
context, and any American contacts who are willing to act as references. Even smoothing
out little details can help, for example: use American spelling, grammar, and punctuation
(rather than, e.g., British), and avoid terms and expressions that would be unfamiliar to an
American reader. Sometimes it is tricky to know what would be unfamiliar, so getting an
American friend or PILC counselor to read the document for you can help.
Use the same font consistently throughout both the cover letter and resume. Make sure this is
a normal size font – no smaller than 10.5 point and no larger than 12.
Use the same abbreviations throughout the cover letter and resume.
Delete “throat clearing” terms: “worked by assisting professor with research” can be edited
to “researched.” See “Omit Surplus Words” (Appendix G).
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Resume tips
Start every sentence with an action verb, and be specific when describing job functions, cases
worked on, research areas, and documents drafted.
Never use the first person (“I”) in your resume.
Organize entries in reverse chronological order.
Be consistent in formatting dates and in your use of commas, bold, italics, and small capitals.
If relevant, use the correct Blue Book form of journals or publications.
Cover letter tips
Include contact information, including email and telephone number.
Make sure that the name of the organization and the contact person are spelled correctly. If
you are unsure of the contact person’s gender, call the organization to confirm or write, Dear
First Name Last Name in lieu of Mr. or Ms. Last Name.
Spend as little space as possible discussing your reasons for wanting to work with a
particular organization. Focus instead on your experiences and skills.
Vary the structure of your sentences to avoid repeated rhythm. Do not start every sentence
with “I”.
Spell words out - avoid using abbreviations or contractions.
Make sure that the cover letter flows smoothly and that your transitions make sense.
What kind of references / recommendations do I need?
Most employers will ask you for two or three references. References are people who know you
well and have supervised you, who can tell the employer more about you, and ideally talk up
your strengths and why you are right for the job. You can ask NYU professors, professors from
previous universities, and former supervisors to serve as references. Employers may ask for
references early on, but they rarely contact them unless you are a finalist for a position. If your
references know someone at the organization where you are applying or if they are very
enthusiastic about helping you, they might want to go ahead and contact the employer
proactively by emailing or calling on your behalf.
Applications for fellowships and other very competitive positions sometimes require you to
submit letters of recommendation. In this case, you may ask some of the same people to write
a letter on your behalf. Keep in mind that recommendation letters in the U.S. tend to be very
detailed, strong, and positive. Sometimes, recommenders will ask you to draft a letter for them
to sign. If not, you may need to tell them what is expected in this context - a letter stating simply
that you worked for an organization and did satisfactory work could actually hurt you, as it
would be perceived as mediocre. So you should not be shy or modest! As always, PILC
counselors are available to help you through this process.
Will they want a transcript or writing sample?
If they ask for grades, or if your grades are good, you may also include an unofficial transcript.
Instructions for preparing an unofficial transcript are in the “J.D. /LL.M. Unofficial Transcript
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Addendum” in the Document Library section of CSM. NYU policy prohibits you from
preparing any unofficial transcript except the Albert one on NYU Home.
Many employers request a writing sample, as well. Writing samples may demonstrate legal
writing skills, non-legal writing skills, and English proficiency, depending on the position. A
good length is usually 5-10 pages, though some employers prefer even shorter pieces of 2-3
pages. If you make an excerpt from something longer than 10 pages, include a note at the top of
the writing sample to explain the context—i.e. that it is a shortened version of a longer piece.
How can I hone my interviewing skills?
An articulate, confident, professional first impression is a key component of achieving success in
searching for a job. With this in mind, OCS publishes “The Art of the Interview” and will
conduct an Interviewing Skills workshop for foreign-trained students. A video of the program
will be available online - to view it go to the OCS webpage, click on resources and select the
video by title. OCS will also hold interview practice interview sessions. And you have the
option to do additional practice video interviews through CSM/Symplicity.
PILC encourages you to use these OCS resources, and also encourages you to discuss questions
you may have about interviewing when you meet with a PILC counselor. We will be happy to
conduct a mock interview with you to help you prepare for a public interest interview. Students
find these mock interviews incredibly helpful, and say they feel much more confident after doing
them.
How should I prepare for a job interview?
Prepare for a job interview by learning as much as possible about the organization, its work, and
its attorneys. Employers want to hire applicants who are enthusiastic about working for them
and genuine enthusiasm comes from knowledge. Thoroughly review the organization’s web site,
read about their program areas, and skim through recent publications or press releases. Search
for their name in Westlaw and LexisNexis for case decisions and news reports. It is wise to ask
for the names of the people who will interview you so that you can research them also. The
more you know, the more comfortable you will feel and the more convincing you will be.
Think about obvious questions they are likely to ask, such as “why do you want this job?” and
“tell me about yourself,” and make sure that you have good concise answers. Expect questions
including “What are your strengths and weaknesses?” and “Where do you see yourself in 5 or 10
years?” Most employers end interviews by asking if you have any questions for them. Be
prepared and think of three or four questions about their work, the interviewer’s background, or
the hiring process.
What is a behavioral interview?
A behavioral interview is sometimes used by public interest employers. It is based on the belief
that the best predictor of future performance is past behavior. Behavioral interview questions
often begin with phrases such as “Tell me about a time when you . . .” or “describe a situation
when you . . . .” These questions are looking for specific examples of behavior that demonstrates
the qualities applicants claim to have. For example, if you describe yourself as “hardworking,” a
behavioral interview question will ask for a specific example. The best way to prepare for this
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type of interview is to think of examples of the concrete challenges you have faced and successes
you have had in previous jobs, internships, and clinics.
How should I dress for an interview?
A suit is favored, or at least conservative, dark business attire. You want the interviewer to focus
on your answers, not on your appearance.
What are special tips for a telephone interview?
For telephone interviews, there are five extra tips to remember:
Be especially concise, because it is easy to keep talking for too long without the visual
cues that the interviewer is satisfied or ready to move on;
Smile even though they can’t see you, as it will make your voice sound enthusiastic;
Try standing up so your voice will project more energy and enthusiasm;
Ensure your phone is charged and that the area you are in has good reception; and
Make sure your environment is free of noisy distractions, such as a barking dog in the
background!
Should I ask about salary, hours, and benefits in an interview?
No. An interview is not the time for you to bring up these issues unless the employer asks you.
The best time to discuss this is AFTER an employer makes you an offer.
Should I send a thank you letter?
YES, you should email a thank you note shortly after an interview. A thank you note provides
an opportunity to reinforce your enthusiasm, skills, and knowledge, as well as to address any
problem areas or issues that were not adequately addressed in the interview. For example, after
you say how much you enjoyed meeting them etc., you could address any concerns with
something like “I’m not sure I explained/emphasized well enough [my litigation experience].” It
is best to email individual thank you notes to everyone you met, so ask for business cards. Email
is recommended because it can arrive within hours after the interview and can be easily
forwarded around an office. Check the spelling of the interviewers’ names before you hit send.
V. Fellowships & Internships
What is a post-graduate fellowship?
Fellowships are limited-term positions in public interest organizations, ranging in time from a
few months to two years. They are prestigious, and are often great entry-level positions that lead
to future employment. Fellowships are also a good idea if you decide to forego a search for a
permanent position and want to seek a project of limited duration.
There are two main types of fellowships: project fellowships and organization fellowships.
Project fellowships are those where you create a project at a host organization and then apply,
with the organization as your sponsor, to the donor. (Note: some project fellowships have
deadlines in early Fall, and expect you to have already secured a sponsoring organization over
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the summer.) Organization fellowships are those where a public interest organization like
Human Rights Watch, the American Civil Liberties Union, or Natural Resources Defense
Council, hires a recent law graduate for a one or two year job.
How can I find out about other fellowships and funding opportunities?
The first place you should look is PILC’s Fellowship Handbook for information on selected
fellowships and resources to help you prepare applications. Aside from the Fellowship
Handbook, there are quite a lot of international fellowships out there, but few of them are geared
to law students per se and many have very particular criteria (e.g. children of refugees or
immigrants, citizens of certain countries, alumni of a particular school, etc.) Two great sources
for international fellowships and funding opportunities are PSJD and the Foundation Center
(www.foundationcenter.org), which has extensive resources online and also a great library not
far from the Law School.
There is also a list of selected international fellowships in the International Public Interest
Handbook, available on the PILC website
(http://www.law.nyu.edu/publicinterestlawcenter/forstudents/career-resources-for-llms) and in
hard copy at the PILC office.
Canadian students, or non-Canadians living in Canada, may be interested in applying to the
Recruitment of Policy Leaders (RPL) program, which recruits candidates into mid to senior-level
policy positions in the Canadian federal public service. The recruitment drive will commence in
fall 2015. See here for more information: http://jobs-emplois.gc.ca/rpl-rlp/index-eng.php.
What Post-Graduate Fellowships does NYU offer for LLMs?
NYU offers the following post-graduate fellowship programs for LLMs. There will be an
information session on these fellowships on Tuesday, October 13, at 12pm in Furman Hall Room
216. More details on each program follow below, but here is a brief overview:
International Finance & Development Fellowship (IFD) with selected international
development organizations.
o Application Deadline: Monday, November 2,
International Law & Human Rights Fellowship (ILHR) with selected NGO and UN
human rights offices around the world and with the UN International Law Commission in
Geneva.
o Application Deadline: Wednesday, November 11 (expected – check the CHRGJ
website to confirm: http://chrgj.org/opportunities/students/chrgj-international-
human-rights-fellowship/).
The above programs provide a modest stipend of $6,500.
In addition, NYU Law sponsors one student, usually an LLM, to complete a clerkship with the
International Court of Justice in The Hague. The application will likely be due mid-January
2016.
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The following post-graduate fellowships are open to both JD and LLM students.
Arthur Helton Global Human Rights Fellowship: Created in 2008, this fellowship
supports one or more graduating students annually who have demonstrated a commitment
to pursuing a career in international human rights law, and who have designed sound
proposals for work at a host organization that they have chosen. Applicants are invited to
design projects to put their legal education to work on timely issues in countries where
their efforts are most needed and where there are insufficient resources for human rights
protection. The fellowship will provide a modest salary for one year and will cover
health insurance and travel costs for graduates to work closely with their chosen host
organization.
Equal Justice Initiative of Alabama: These two fellowships for recent graduates present
a terrific opportunity to work at the Equal Justice Initiative in Montgomery, Alabama for
two years with Professor Bryan Stevenson. The work involves death-penalty appeals,
civil rights litigation aimed at reforming the criminal justice system, community based
initiatives dealing with juveniles and people with mental disabilities, and other criminal
litigation.
Gallatin Global Fellowship in Human Rights: Since 2011, the Gallatin Global
Fellowship in Human Rights has supported up to ten selected students yearly with funded
internship experiences that focus on international human rights. Student fellows are
required to have an invitation from a non-governmental organization (NGO). These
NGOs are human rights organizations that have the capacity to host students and
incorporate them in substantive aspects of their human rights work in meaningful ways. It
is anticipated that the fellowship will allow students to contribute to the organization’s
work while gaining experience in the human rights field in ways that complement their
academic trajectory at NYU Law. Learn more about the Gallatin Global Fellowship here.
George A. Katz Fellowship at the Brennan Center for Justice: In honor of a great
lawyer dedicated to building the next generation of public interest lawyers, Wachtell,
Lipton, Rosen & Katz created the George A. Katz ('54) Fellowship Program at the Law
School's Brennan Center for Justice. Every other year, a selection committee awards a
recent graduate with a two-year fellowship to work with Brennan Center on litigation,
public education, research, and scholarship. The Katz Fellowship is offered every other
year; students and alumni may apply in the fall of even-numbered years.
NYU Law and Social Enterprise Fellowship: Administered through NYU School of
Law under the auspices of the Jacobson Leadership Program in Law and Business, this
fellowship promotes research and curriculum development in subjects related to legal
issues in the area of social entrepreneurship. The fellowship broadly defines social
enterprise as the use of business strategies to solve intractable social problems and
advance a social mission.
Outten & Golden Employment Law Fellowship: Every other year, Outten & Golden
will offer a Fellowship to a recent NYU graduate to address issues of workplace fairness
as an attorney with the firm for two years. Applications are accepted in the fall of even-
numbered years.
Robert L. Bernstein Fellowship in International Human Rights: The Bernstein
Fellowship provides an opportunity for a recent graduate to spend one year doing human
rights advocacy work at Human Rights in China in its New York or Hong Kong office.
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See the PILC website and PILC’s Fellowship Handbook for a comprehensive list and further
details.
What are the International Finance and Development Fellowships?
The International Finance and Development Fellowships (IFD) are coordinated by PILC, and
current LLM students at NYU School of Law are eligible to apply. The Fellowship Program is
designed to complement students' international legal education in a range of areas including
finance, development, and trade law through practice experience and scholarship. There are two
main components of the IFD Fellowship: a post-graduation internship at an international
organization for a minimum of 10-12 weeks, and the submission of a research paper to the Law
School following the internship.
This year NYU expects to select around 14 students as IFD Fellows through a competitive
process starting in October. If you are offered the fellowship you must accept - so think it
through before you apply.
Confirmation of fellowship placement sites for 2016 is still in process, but among the institutions
and organizations being considered are:
European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD)
International Development Law Organization (IDLO)
International Finance Corporation (IFC)
International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD)
International Monetary Fund (IMF)
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)
United Nations (UN)
World Bank
Applications will be available online and will also be distributed during an October 13
information session. The IFD application is due Monday, November 2 (note that this is earlier
than the International Law & Human Rights Fellowships). For further information about the
program, please visit
http://www.law.nyu.edu/publicinterestlawcenter/forstudents/postgradfellowshipsLLMs/ifd-
fellowships.
What are the International Law and Human Rights Fellowships?
The ILHR Fellowship Program is coordinated by the Center for Human Rights and Global
Justice in cooperation with the Institute for International Law and Justice. The program is open
to full-time JD (1L and 2L), LLM, and JSD students who will be selected through a competitive
process in the fall. At least ten slots will be dedicated to graduate students. The Fellowship
Program is designed to enhance students’ legal education in international law and human rights
through scholarship and practice experience. The Fellowship Program has three main
components: an internship at a prestigious organization in the summer (can be later for some
internships), preparatory seminars in the Spring semester, and an academic research paper on a
topic selected by the student working with a faculty advisor that, for most fellows, is due in
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October of the subsequent academic year. If you are offered the fellowship you must accept - so
think it through before you apply.
This program is specifically designated for students seeking internships with certain highly
regarded international organizations. Confirmation of internship placement sites for the 2016
International Law and Human Rights Fellowship Program is still in process, but among the
institutions and organizations being considered are the following:
Al-Haq, Ramallah
Association for Civil Rights in Israel, Tel Aviv
Bangladesh Legal Aid and Services Trust, Dhaka
Center for Justice and International Law, San José
Defense for Children International-Sierra Leone, Freetown
European Centre for Constitutional and Human Rights, Berlin
European Roma Rights Centre, Budapest
Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia, Phnom Penh
Human Rights Law Network, New Delhi
Human Rights Network for Journalists-Uganda, Kampala
Institute for Human Rights and Democracy, Lima
Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, Washington
International Center for Transitional Justice, Bogotá and Nairobi
International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia, The Hague
International Organization for Migration, Bangkok
International Women's Rights Action Watch-Asia Pacific, Kuala Lumpur
Judicial Reform Foundation, Taipei
JUSTICE, London
Legal Assistance Centre, Windhoek
People’s Watch, Tamil Nadu
South Asian Center for Legal Studies, Colombo
Southern Africa Litigation Center, Johannesburg
Special Tribunal for Lebanon, The Hague
UN Department of Peacekeeping Operations, New York
UN High Commissioner for Refugees, several offices perhaps including
Amman, Ankara, Beirut and Dakar
UN International Law Commission, Geneva
Zhicheng Public Interest Law Firm (including Beijing Legal Aid Office for
Migrant Workers and/or Beijing Children's Legal Aid & Research Center),
Beijing
Fellowships will last a minimum of 10 weeks in length, and some will require 12 weeks’
duration. If you are interested in internships at placement sites within the Fellowship Program,
you must apply through this Program. Because NYU has made special placement arrangements
with these organizations, NYU students may only intern at these sites through this program.
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An information session is scheduled for Tuesday, October 13, at 12pm, Furman Hall, Room 216
and applications will be distributed at that time. The application is expected to be due
Wednesday, November 11. For further information about the program, and list of last year’s
placements, and to check the application deadline, go to
www.chrgj.org/opportunities/students/chrgj-international-human-rights-fellowship/, or email
Tish Armstrong at [email protected].
What opportunities are available with the World Bank?
In addition to the IFD Fellowship for NYU students, the Legal Vice Presidency of the World
Bank recruits graduates from various global law schools for the Legal Analyst Program (LAP)
(formerly known as the Legal Associates Program), a three-year appointment. There is an age
limit on candidates of 32 years old, and the World Bank usually requires a minimum of one year
and maximum of two years’ prior legal work experience. Duties include legal research,
comparative legal analysis, drafting of legal documents and legal support of ongoing
projects. The program provides invaluable opportunities for students interested in international
development. We expect the World Bank to ask NYU to nominate at least two outstanding
candidates for LAP, possibly more, who will then be assessed in a competitive pool against
nominations from the other participating law schools. More information will be available as
soon as the World Bank announces details for this year’s program, likely to be in November
2015.
What steps should I take to apply for fellowships?
1. Do a search on PSJD to identify the fellowships that fit the area of practice you would
like to pursue.
2. Thoroughly research the requirements of each fellowship and the organization, in order
to find out everything you can about them. Check each organization’s website. For
project fellowships, research the previous projects that have been funded, available on
their web sites.
3. Network with people who might be familiar with the organization or the fellowship:
recent NYU graduates who have received fellowships; faculty members or former
employers. Feel free to also contact the organization directly with questions.
4. For project fellowships, make ties with organizations.
a. You might apply to work with an organization that you have already worked with but
you need not be confined by this.
b. Make sure that the organization is not sponsoring someone else for the same
fellowship, or that their application deadline has already passed.
c. Develop a project proposal with members of the organization.
5. Request recommendations.
a. Request letters early from your recommenders. Alert them as to when you will be
giving them your application materials and the date by which you need their letter.
b. Some programs specify the people from whom your letters of recommendation
should come. If not, there are likely two types of letters you should get.
28
Law School Professors - If possible, get a letter from a clinic professor or another
professor who is very familiar with you and your work.
Employers - A letter from an employer who saw the full range of your work
abilities is best. Try to find someone who can speak to your research, writing and
oral advocacy skills. If developing a community education project, try to find
someone who can discuss your teaching and organizing skills. Do not assume
that a committee will be most impressed with the most “prestigious” sounding
employer on your resume. It is better to ask someone who can be your best
advocate.
6. For project fellowships, write essays.
a. Address the client needs and specifics of how you will accomplish your goals.
b. You (and your project sponsor) should explain the qualification of the sponsoring
organization and emphasize the supervision you will receive, as fellowship
organizations are very concerned that fellows receive excellent training.
7. For organization fellowships, write a careful cover letter, explaining how your past
experience (extracurriculars, clinics, journals, publications, moot court, internships etc.)
makes you a valuable candidate. See Appendix B for sample cover letters.
8. Compile your application, including letters of recommendation, and apply on time (but
there is usually no advantage to applying early).
Prepare for an interview by learning everything you can about the organization and the
fellowship. Learn about the specific work of the organization by reading its website, doing a
Lexis/Westlaw search on cases, and a Nexis search on news articles. Fellowship interviews can
be demanding, so expect hypotheticals and substantive questions and be prepared to discuss your
interest on more than a general level. For example, some organizations ask you to choose any
legal issue of interest to you and present it to them. Others might ask you to outline how you
would research a hypothetical issue in the area that they work in. Be prepared also for
hypotheticals that require you to use your knowledge of the broad range of lawyering strategies.
We highly recommend you meet with a PILC counselor to do a mock interview.
What is an internship and how can I get one?
An internship involves working for an organization, sort of as an apprentice. Hundreds of public
interest organizations in New York hire interns – and many give interns very substantive work
and rely on them to fulfill their missions. Public interest internships are often unpaid, but most
employers try to compensate their interns by making sure it is a valuable experience. If you do
good work as an intern, they are more likely to hire you when they have an opening for a paid
position. Internships help you gain skills, make contacts, demonstrate your commitment, and
develop a good reputation. Indeed, many public interest employers will expect you to have
interned before they would even consider hiring you.
To apply for an internship, you should send a resume and a cover letter. You can respond to a
posting or simply write to organizations that interest you – sometimes they do not post that they
need an intern but that doesn’t mean they wouldn’t like to have one. In your cover letter, you
should let them know that you are an LLM student at NYU (and explain what the LLM is if they
might not know, as previously discussed), that you are willing to volunteer as an intern, that you
29
have relevant skills to make a contribution to their work, that you are committed to their mission,
and why you are enthusiastic about working with them.
Should I intern during the school year?
If you feel that you can devote at least one full day or two half-days per week without
jeopardizing your studies, then yes, you should consider doing a term-time internship! We
sometimes advise LLMs to wait until the Spring semester to intern, after you have been through
a semester of classes and exams and have a better sense of how much time you could devote to
it, especially if English is not your first language.
Should I intern after graduation or the bar exam?
We would all prefer for you to find a permanent, paid position straight away. However, despite
best efforts, this may not be the case for everyone. We recommend you first try to obtain a paid
job, but that you should consider interning if you do not find one. In this case, the internship will
be a big help to you in your job search. If you cannot afford to volunteer full-time, then consider
doing a part-time internship and a part-time job.
If your interest is shorter term (e.g. you plan to spend a year or so in the U.S. before going back
home, to do public interest for a while before starting at a law firm, etc.), you should consider
interning because it may be harder for you to find a paid job.
VI. PRO BONO SERVICE
What is pro bono work?
Pro bono work is legal work performed for a client who does not pay a fee. Typically, pro bono
work is performed for low-income individuals who cannot afford access to legal representation,
or for non-profit organizations. However, under the New York State Bar rules (see below), other
types of work, such as for governmental agencies or judges, can also qualify as pro bono.
Although pro bono clients do not pay a fee, they are entitled to exactly the same quality of
service as a fee-paying client. Organizations that provide free legal services take their
responsibilities extremely seriously, and expect their volunteers to uphold all the ordinary
standards of professionalism that apply to paid work.
What are the Pro Bono Requirements for the NY State Bar?
All persons who apply for admission to the New York State Bar are required to file an affidavit
showing that they have performed fifty hours of pro bono service. The full text of the rule and a
Frequently Asked Questions document can be found at
http://www.nycourts.gov/attorneys/probono/baradmissionreqs.shtml.
The aim of the pro bono requirement is to fill gaps in access to justice that affect low-income and
disadvantaged people. However, the New York State Courts have approved a broader range of
pro bono work than just legal services for indigent clients. Below is an overview of what
qualifies:
30
Pro bono work must be law-related and supervised by an attorney in order to qualify.
Internships with a broad range of organizations including legal services providers; public
defender and prosecutor offices; not-for-profit organizations; state, local, or federal
government agencies or legislative bodies; and judges or court systems can count, but the
work must be law-related and properly supervised.
Pro bono work can be completed before the LLM program commences (most LLMs can
only count up to one year before), during the LLM program school year, or after
completion of the LLM program and the Bar exam (but before application for admission,
which usually occurs around October/November at the earliest, if you take the July Bar
exam).
Pro bono work abroad can also qualify if it otherwise meets the definition of eligible pro
bono work specified in the rule. You will be asked to explain the nature and
circumstances of the work in detail.
Pro bono work at a law firm can qualify if no fee is being paid, and the work is duly
supervised and law related.
Some NYU Law clinics can count (although students who need the LLM for NY Bar
eligibility should note that not all NYU clinics count toward the 24 credits you will need
to earn as part of the LLM degree).
You are allowed to receive funding or academic credit for work you do to satisfy the
requirement.
The following things do NOT count:
Scholarly research, such as academic research for a professor or work for a law journal or
publication.
Student-supervised pro bono (for example, the work of student organizations such as
REACH, Unemployment Action Center, and the Suspension Representation Project does
not qualify because students are not supervised by an attorney).
Community service that is not law-related, such as teaching English.
Language translation or interpretation services provided separately from the actual
provision of legal services.
How will I get credit for the hours I complete?
You will be required to complete the affidavit form, including certification by your attorney
supervisor, for each qualifying pro bono project that you do. It is recommended that you
complete the form at the time you complete your qualifying pro bono work. You can find the
affidavit form, along with Rule 520.16 of the Rules of the Court of Appeals which explains the
new requirements, and Frequently Asked Questions, on the New York State Courts website.
What resources does NYU provide for finding pro bono opportunities and
tracking hours?
NYU Law sources opportunities for LLM students to complete their pro bono requirement,
which are posted to Symplicity. Students are encouraged to meet with David Glasgow, Associate
Director and Research Fellow in the Public Interest Law Center, for advice on identifying
opportunities. David can be reached at [email protected].
31
PILC has also created a module in Symplicity where students can track your hours. This module
is to help you keep track only, and you will need to submit original affidavits when you seek
admission to the Bar. For more information, see
http://www.law.nyu.edu/publicinterestlawcenter/forstudents/pro-bono-opportunities-for-LLMs.
In addition to the placements on Symplicity, you can find pro bono work through your own
contacts, or on websites such as PSJD.org and ProBonoNet. You can even reach out directly to
organizations that interest you and see if you can volunteer with them. However, be careful
when finding your own opportunities to make sure that the work will meet the definition of
qualifying pro bono specified in the rule and FAQ document (see above).
How do I know which pro bono placements are right for me?
As you read through the pro bono placement descriptions posted on Symplicity, consider these
questions: Which organization does work that I care about the most? What area of law would I
like to learn more about? Am I comfortable interacting directly with clients, or do I prefer
research? You should also consider how the pro bono placement will fit around your course
schedule; only sign up for an opportunity if you are certain that you will be able to meet the time
commitment specified in the placement description.
Do not feel discouraged or deterred if you have no experience in the areas of law covered by the
pro bono placements. Unless otherwise indicated on the description in Symplicity, the
organizations do not expect any prior knowledge or experience—they just want caring,
committed people to help their clients. Think of it as an opportunity to learn something
interesting and new.
Please also feel free to make an appointment with David Glasgow in PILC to discuss your pro
bono options and figure out what will suit you best.
How do I apply for pro bono placements?
Each pro bono placement posted to Symplicity will have instructions on how to apply. For
some, it is as simple as signing up to a training session. For others, the organization requires you
to prepare a cover letter and apply for the placement the same way as for a paid position, which
may include attending an interview before they decide to take you on board.
A pro bono cover letter is similar to any other cover letter (see section IV of this Handbook for
instructions), but can usually be more brief. Make sure you include in the letter:
A statement of where you found the pro bono placement, e.g. that it was advertised
through the Public Interest Law Center at NYU; your enthusiasm for, and commitment to, the work of the organization; and your availability.
If you have any foreign language skills that may be relevant to the organization’s clients (e.g.
Spanish, Mandarin, Haitian Creole, Russian, or French), include that as well.
32
Do not state in the cover letter that you are looking to fulfill the 50-hour requirement for the
New York State Bar. Many organizations will take this as a sign that you are not really
committed to their work.
After you apply for a pro bono placement, don’t worry if you do not hear back from the
organization. In most cases the person is just busy. Send a follow-up email a couple of weeks
after you apply, to check that they received your application and reiterate your interest in
volunteering.
There is an example of a pro bono cover letter and a follow-up email in Appendix C.
Are there any other things I should know about pro bono work?
Pro bono work can be incredibly fulfilling and enriching. Not only are you providing support to
individuals and organizations in need, you are also getting to know the American legal system,
building contacts, and potentially learning about a new area of law.
Remember that NYU coordinates pro bono opportunities with the hope that the organizations
will continue to accept our students in the future. Treat your pro bono placement as though it is a
paid job, and uphold ethical and professional standards. It will be both to your benefit and to the
benefit of future LLM students.
33
Appendix A: PILC Counselor Bios
Lisa Hoyes ’99
Assistant Dean for Public Service
(JD NYU School of Law; MA Princeton University; BA SUNY Purchase)
Lisa Hoyes joined the Law School from the Federal Defenders of New York, where she served
as an Assistant Federal Defender from 2009 to 2015. At Federal Defenders, Lisa handled a wide
variety of cases, including terrorism, narcotics, weapons, immigration, and securities fraud. As
the Federal Defender liaison to two innovative court diversion programs, one for young
offenders and one for defendants struggling with substance abuse, Lisa worked alongside the
judges of the Eastern District of New York to implement and expand the programs.
Prior to joining the Federal Defenders, Lisa spent nearly a decade at the Bronx Defenders,
advocating for thousands of indigent clients. She took a leave of absence from the Bronx
Defenders in 2004 to serve as an NYU Law Fellow at the Equal Justice Initiative, working with
Professor of Clinical Law Bryan Stevenson to represent death row inmates and other offenders
facing life sentences under three-strikes laws. Lisa later returned to the Bronx Defenders as a
Supervising Attorney and a member of the Advanced Felony Trial Unit.
After graduating from NYU Law, Lisa won a Soros Justice Postgraduate Fellowship to undertake
a project she designed to provide civil legal services to juveniles involved in delinquency
proceedings and the criminal justice system. For two years, she provided immigration, housing,
family law, and benefits representation to young people under the auspices of Legal Aid’s
Juvenile Rights Division and The Door’s Legal Services Center.
While at the Law School, Lisa was a Sinsheimer Scholar, an active member of BALSA, an
associate editor of NYU Law Review, and a participant in the Juvenile Rights clinic. Lisa
received a BA in Language and Culture and Political Science from SUNY Purchase.
Miriam Eckenfels-Garcia LLM ’13
Interim Associate Director
(LLM NYU School of Law; MA University of Basel, School of Law; BA University of Basel,
School of Law)
Miriam is an international lawyer and an attorney admitted in New York State. Prior to joining
PILC, Miriam was a legal counsel to the Palau National Congress, the legislature of the Republic
of Palau from 2013-2015. In this capacity, she drafted bills for new and amended civil and
criminal legislation and advised the members of Congress on human rights issues and Palau’s
obligations under international law. Miriam obtained her LLM in International Legal Studies
from NYU School of Law with a focus on transitional justice and international human rights.
During the LLM she worked as a remote consultant to the European Center for Constitutional
and Human Rights in Berlin and as an advocacy intern for Watchlist on Children and Armed
Conflict in New York. From 2010-2012, Miriam worked as the executive assistant to the
Chairman of the OECD Working Group on Bribery and as an academic assistant at the
34
University of Basel. Miriam also pursues a PhD project that analyzes the possibility of including
corporate actors in transitional justice mechanisms.
David Glasgow LLM ’14
Associate Director and Research Fellow
(LLM NYU School of Law; LLB University of Melbourne Law School; BA University of
Melbourne Faculty of Arts)
David coordinates outreach and student guidance regarding the 50-hour pro bono requirement for
admission to the New York State Bar; administers the International Finance and Development
Fellowship and International Court of Justice Clerkship; and counsels public-interest oriented JD
and LLM students. David is an Australian-qualified lawyer and an attorney admitted in New
York State. Prior to joining PILC, he obtained an LLM from NYU School of Law with a focus
on civil rights and nondiscrimination issues, which included an internship at Immigration
Equality through the LGBT Rights Clinic. He was awarded the David H. Moses Memorial Prize
upon graduating first in the LLM program. David previously practiced employment, labor
relations and discrimination law in Australia and clerked for a Justice of the Federal Court of
Australia. While practicing law, he maintained a substantial pro bono caseload, particularly
through the Homeless Persons’ Legal Clinic. He also served as President and in other
management positions for the nonprofit organization Lawyers for Animals.
Sarah Hudson-Plush
Associate Director
(JD Cardozo School of Law; BA University of Michigan)
Sarah Hudson-Plush joined PILC, where she specializes in non-profit domestic organizations and
post-graduate fellowships, as a part-time counselor in February 2012. After law school, Sarah
was a Skadden Fellow at the Center for Family Representation, where she completed a project
focused on the educational rights of indigent parents, including teen parents, involved in all
stages of the child protective system. After completing her fellowship, Sarah remained at CFR,
where she represented parents in neglect and abuse proceedings in Manhattan Family Court.
Immediately prior to joining PILC, Sarah worked for a short time as a staff attorney at Advocates
for Children of New York, where she represented families in special education matters and
supported impact litigation work. Between college and law school, Sarah was a public school
teacher, first as a Teach for America corps member in Newark, NJ, and then at a charter school
in Hoboken, NJ.
Miriam F. Ingber
Associate Director
(JD Yale Law School; AB Summa Cum Laude Dartmouth College)
Before joining the Public Interest Law Center in 2015, Miriam Ingber taught on the NYU Law
Lawyering faculty. Prior to that, she worked as a Senior Staff Attorney at Children's Rights, a
non-profit organization based in New York City. At Children's Rights, she worked on class
action civil rights litigation aimed at improving child welfare systems nationwide, including
federal litigation in Oklahoma and Rhode Island, and monitoring efforts in Mississippi. From
35
2006 to 2010, she worked in private practice on a wide range of issues, including white collar
defense, internal investigations and general commercial litigation. While in private practice, she
had an active pro bono practice that included advocacy for victims of domestic violence.
From 2004 to 2005 she clerked for the Supreme Court of Canada for Justice Rosalie Silberman
Abella. Miriam graduated from Yale Law School in 2004. While at Yale, she was an editor for
the Yale Law Journal and the Yale Journal of Health Policy Law & Ethics, as well as a Coker
Fellow. She received her AB summa cum laude from Dartmouth College in 2001.
Emily Kernan
Associate Director
(JD Harvard Law School; AB Summa Cum Laude Duke University)
Emily Kernan joined the Public Interest Law Center in August 2015 from Advocates for
Children of New York (AFC). As a staff attorney at AFC, Emily worked to improve educational
outcomes for children involved in the child welfare system through individual representation and
capacity-building efforts with foster care agencies. During this time, she also served as a part-
time Public Interest Career Advisor at Columbia Law School’s Social Justice Initiatives, where
she counseled law students and graduates about fellowships and public interest opportunities in
child advocacy and other fields.
Before joining AFC in 2012, Emily worked at Lawyers For Children as Director of the Mental
Health Advocacy Project, a project she started with a Skadden Fellowship in 2007. She
represented children in foster care with mental health issues in New York City Family Court
proceedings. She also engaged in policy work to tackle systemic problems, such as the over-
prescription of psychotropic medications to children in care.
Emily received her J.D. from Harvard Law School, where she actively participated in the Child
Advocacy Program and served as Co-President of the student group Child and Youth Advocates.
Her clinical work involved court reform efforts to expedite permanency for children in foster
care in Washington State and education advocacy on behalf of children exposed to family
violence in Boston. Emily spent her summers at the National Center for Youth Law in Oakland,
California and at The Door’s Legal Services Center in New York City. Emily received an A.B.
in Psychology from Duke University in 2003.
Linda Wayner
Executive Director, Brewer Latino Institute for Human Rights
(JD University of Michigan; M.A., BA Baylor University)
An attorney with a background in international arbitration, before joining NYU Linda M.
Wayner served as general counsel for the New York City Mayor's Office for International
Affairs. In that position, she oversaw legal affairs involving the city’s role as host to the United
Nations and 192 foreign government offices.
Before joining the Office of the Mayor, Linda was a commercial litigation attorney at Skadden
Arps Slate Meagher & Flom, where she focused on international arbitration and the
36
representation of foreign companies in domestic securities cases and investigations. Linda also
served as counsel to the organized Latino, African American, Native American, and Asian
American students at the University of Michigan Law School during the Grutter v. Bollinger
affirmative action lawsuit before the Supreme Court, helping them to file an amicus brief in the
case. She was previously deputy president of the Hispanic National Bar Association for the New
York region.
Linda received her law degree from the University of Michigan, where she was an associate
editor of the Michigan Law Review. She obtained both a bachelor's and master's degree in
International Politics from Baylor University.
Gabrielle Royal
Programs Director
(MA NYU Graduate School of Arts & Sciences – Expected December 2015; BA Texas
A&M University)
Before joining the Public Interest Law Center as their Programs Director, Gabrielle Royal
previously worked at NYU DC as a Program Coordinator creating and supporting co-curricular
events, diversity initiatives, Alumni Mentorship programming, and networking opportunities for
their student population. She is a graduate of Texas A&M University and is completing her MA
degree at NYU's Graduate School of Arts & Science (GSAS). Her research is focused on the
intersections of race, gender, and sexuality. She has years of experience as a student affairs
professional and is passionate about diversity education. She was recently named as one of 100
Black LGBT Emerging Leaders to Watch by the National Black Justice Coalition. She has
presented her academic research at Princeton University, University of North Carolina, CUNY,
and the University of Montpellier in France. She is excited about continuing her service at NYU
as an administrator and joining the PILC team!
Lisa A. Borge
Programs Director
(JD Golden Gate University School of Law; BA Emerson College)
Lisa Borge joined the Public Interest Law Center as its department administrator in August 2015.
Before that, she served by Federal Criminal Justice Act appointment on various complex and
death penalty cases in the Eastern, Southern, and Northern Districts of New York, and at the
New York State Capital Defender Office providing litigation, administrative, and appellate
support to attorneys in federal practice and state capital practice. She works closely with the
assistant dean for public service administering the events and programs for PILC as well as
coordinating the Summer Funding Program.
37
Appendix B: Sample Resume and Cover Letter
STELLA STUDENT
79 Gray Gardens, 110 West 3rd
Street, #1111
London, England New York, NY 10012
Mobile: +1-917-123-4567 [email protected]
EDUCATION
NEW YORK UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF LAW, New York, NY
LLM in International Legal Studies, 2016
Honours: Transitional Justice Scholar
International Human Rights Award for outstanding academic record
Activities: JOURNAL OF INTERNATIONAL LAW AND POLITICS, Graduate Editor
Law Students for Human Rights
Publication: Book Note, 38 N.Y.U. J. INT’L L. & POL. 1111 (reviewing MARK A. DRUMBL, ATROCITY,
PUNISHMENT, AND INTERNATIONAL LAW 2007)
UNIVERSITY OF DUBLIN, TRINITY COLLEGE SCHOOL OF LAW, Dublin, Ireland
Bachelor of Laws (LLB), 2012, First Class Honours Class Standing – 4th
/86
Honours: Moot Court Advocacy (in Tort and Contract Law), 2008-2009
EXPERIENCE
INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL TRIBUNAL FOR RWANDA, Arusha, Tanzania
NYU Center for Human Rights & Global Justice Fellow, May 2016 – August 2016
Digested and analysed factual information presented at trial to assist in drafting judgment. Conducted legal research
and drafted memoranda as requested by judge and legal staff in chambers. Researched and wrote working paper on
command responsibility.
INTERNATIONAL CENTER FOR TRANSITIONAL JUSTICE, New York, USA
Intern, January 2016 – May 2016
Researched the institutional relationship between tribunals and truth commissions focusing on Sierra Leone.
INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS LAW CLINIC, NYU SCHOOL OF LAW, New York, USA
Student Associate, September 2015 – May 2016
Researched and co-authored Hidden Apartheid, a report on caste discrimination in India by Human Rights Watch
and the Center for Human Rights & Global Justice. Advocated at UN in Geneva around Committee on the
Elimination of Racial Discrimination review of India’s state party report. Researched issues of international law in
support of litigation in U.S. federal court. Drafted briefing paper on ‘acquiescence’ in definition of torture.
WILLIAM FRY SOLICITORS, Dublin, Ireland
Solicitor, Litigation Department, August 2013 – August 2015
Drafted pleadings, affidavits, and prepared evidence for major transnational intellectual property litigation in the
High Court. Researched points of law on complex corporate crime issues. Assisted counsel during hearings.
INTERNATIONAL SERVICE FOR HUMAN RIGHTS (ISHR), Geneva, Switzerland
United Nations Monitoring Team Intern, May 2013 – August 2013
Monitored UN human rights meetings and published reports in the Human Rights Monitor. Researched and wrote
briefing comment on the regional human rights systems and guide to NGO interaction with UN treaty bodies.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Conversational German. Enjoy sailing, amateur theatre, and ballet,.
38
79 Gray Gardens, 110 West 3rd
Street,
#1111
London, England New York, NY 10012
Mobile: +1-917-123-4567 [email protected]
March 30, 2016
Dimitrina Petrova
Executive Director
Equal Rights Trust
193 Fleet Street
London, EC4 2AH
United Kingdom
Dear Ms. Petrova:
I am a law graduate of Trinity College Dublin, Ireland currently completing my LLM in International
Legal Studies at New York University School of Law, and am writing to apply for the position of Legal
Research Associate with Equal Rights Trust. I believe my skills, experience, and interests make me well-
suited to help develop and manage a research agenda on anti-discrimination and to contribute to the
important mission of the Equal Rights Trust.
My solid academic background in human rights law and significant experience in human rights advocacy
have given me the knowledge and skills required for the role of a Legal Research Associate. I recently
wrote a shadow report on caste discrimination for the Committee on the Elimination of Racial
Discrimination, and lobbied Committee members and governments during the Committee’s review of
India’s state party report. My internships at the International Center for Transitional Justice and
International Service for Human Rights have allowed me to deepen my knowledge of national, European
and international human rights mechanisms and to gain practical experience working with human rights
NGOs. In addition, my legal training has afforded me excellent research and writing skills, and I have
written legal briefs, briefing papers, newsletters, and scholarly articles. Finally, I am highly motivated and
passionate about promoting equality and human rights, and committed to the mission of Equal Rights
Trust.
Thank you very much for your consideration. Should you require any further information, please contact
me at the phone number or email address above. I have been selected to intern with the International
Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda after graduation, and will be available to start work with Equal Rights
Trust in August 2016. I will be passing through London the week of May 23 before I go to Arusha, and I
would be happy to come in for an interview then. I look forward to hearing from you.
Yours sincerely,
Stella Student
39
Appendix C: Sample Pro Bono Cover Letter and Follow Up Email
Jian Lu
214 East 14th St. Apt. 10B
New York, NY 10003
(601) 205-3986
September 15, 2015
Sofia Vallejo, Staff Attorney
Attorneys for Justice
426 W 18th
Street
New York, NY 10014
Dear Ms. Vallejo:
I am writing to express my interest in completing pro bono work with Attorneys for Justice in
your immigration program. I am a current LLM student at New York University School of Law,
and learned about the pro bono placement opportunity through the law school’s Public Interest
Law Center. I believe that my fluency in Mandarin and commitment to serving low-income
immigrants will enable me to contribute effectively to your pro bono program.
Before commencing the LLM at NYU, I practiced as an attorney in China in the litigation team
of a major corporate law firm. Although the focus of my work was corporation law, I developed
strong transferable skills in research, client interviewing, and drafting court documents. I am
deepening those skills in the U.S. context through the LLM, and would be delighted to apply
them in serving your clients. Having studied immigration law in my first law degree, I am
passionate about the rights of immigrants and would be a strong advocate for your clients as they
navigate the U.S. system.
My schedule for the Fall semester allows me to contribute to your organization up to eight hours
each week. My resume is enclosed for your consideration. I hope to contribute to the important
work of Attorneys for Justice this Fall, and I look forward to hearing from you.
Sincerely,
Jian Lu
FOLLOW UP EMAIL
40
To: Sofia Vallejo
From: Jian Lu
Date: September 30, 2015
Subject: Pro bono work at Attorneys for Justice
Dear Ms. Vallejo:
I hope this finds you well. I am writing to follow up my application to complete pro bono work
with Attorneys for Justice, sent September 15.
I am still extremely interested in conducting pro bono work with your organization this Fall. If
there is anything further you require to consider my application, please feel free to send me an
email or call me on (601) 205-3986.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Best regards,
Jian Lu
41
Appendix D: Websites for International Job Searches
Included here are compilations of listings related to international public interest. We also list some
specific organizations, although this is only a sample – there are many more!
General Job Search Websites
American Bar Association Career Network - Maintained by the ABA-CLE Career Resource Center,
the site provides job postings, job search tools, job and career tips, and links to career related resources.
www.americanbar.org/careercenter.html
American Bar Association, International Law Section – Website includes a “Student Headquarters,”
with resources including a Jobs Portal, Career Resources and Internship Resources.
www.americanbar.org/groups/international_law/students.html
Active Learning Network for Accountability and Performance in Humanitarian Action (ALNAP) –
Job listings posted by ALNAP, a network dedicated to improving humanitarian performance through
increased learning and accountability.
www.alnap.org/members/vacancies.aspx
American Society of International Law (ASIL) – Job and internship listings for ASIL members.
www.asil.org/job-board
Association for Women’s Rights in Development (AWID) – Job listings related to gender equality,
sustainable development and women’s human rights.
www.awid.org/jobs
Communication Initiative – Job listings (legal and non-legal) related to international development.
www.comminit.com/job_vacancies
Design, Monitoring and Evaluation for Peacebuilding – Job listings (legal and non-legal) related to
peacebuilding.
www.dmeforpeace.org/opportunities/jobs
Devex – Humanitarian, health and sustainability job listings and short-term consulting opportunities.
www.devex.com/jobs
DevNet Jobs - Job listings and consulting opportunities related to international development.
www.DevNetJobs.org
Eldis – Job listings (legal and non-legal) related to international development.
www.eldis.org
Human Rights Jobs – Job listings (legal and non-legal) related to human rights. Some jobs are for
members only.
www.humanrightsjobs.com
Human Rights Resource Center - Links to numerous job pages at international and domestic NGOs and
IGOs.
www.hrusa.org/field/joblinks.shtm
42
Idealist – Excellent and comprehensive searchable listing of global public service jobs, internships and
volunteer opportunities (legal and non-legal) in over 140 countries.
www.idealist.org
International Jobs Center – A source of international job listings, including international development
and law reform opportunities.
www.internationaljobs.org
Jobs4Development – International development, NGO and non-profit job listings.
www.jobs4development.com
Lawyers Without Borders – A global group of volunteer lawyers who offer pro bono services to rule of
law projects, capacity building and access to justice initiatives. Includes job listings and volunteer
opportunities.
www.lawyerswithoutborders.org
Microfinance Gateway – Job listings (legal and non-legal) related to microfinance and financial
inclusion.
www.microfinancegateway.org/p/site/m/jobs
Nonprofit Career Network – International and domestic non-profit job listings.
www.nonprofitcareer.com/
Nonprofit Jobs – International and domestic non-profit job listings.
www.nonprofitjobs.org
Omidyar Network - Philanthropic investment firm that posts openings at their portfolio organizations.
jobs.omidyar.com/careers_home.php
One World – Jobs and volunteer positions (legal and non-legal) with non-profits around the world.
oneworld.org/jobs
Pambazuka News – African job listings.
pambazuka.org/en/category/jobs
PILnet - A website that lists many pro bono and volunteer legal opportunities, including international
opportunities.
www.pilnet.org/public-interest-law-programs/pro-bono-law.html
Pro Bono Net – A website that lists many pro bono and volunteer legal opportunities, including
international opportunities.
www.probono.net
PSJD – Searchable listings of jobs, fellowships and internships throughout the world with more
comprehensive coverage of some countries than others.
www.psjd.org
ReliefWeb – Job listings (legal and non-legal) for humanitarian and development jobs.
reliefweb.int/jobs
43
Riley Guide – Resources for job searches, including lists of job search websites.
www.rileyguide.com
General IGO Job Websites
IGO Directory (Northwestern University) – A comprehensive list of IGOs.
libguides.northwestern.edu/IGO
IGO Directory (Emory University) – Links to IGO websites.
sociology.emory.edu/faculty/globalization/igo.html
IO Careers – A website run by the State Department with information on IGO careers (including job
listings and lists of internships, Young Professional Programs and Junior Professional Officer programs).
iocareers.state.gov/Main/Home
JPO Service Center – Information about various JPO programs, including many UN programs and links
to the JPO programs of other IGOs.
www.jposc.undp.org/content/jposc/en/home.html
www.jposc.undp.org/content/jposc/en/home/how-to-join/working-for-the-un/other-jpo-programmes
UN Careers – Central website for all UN Secretariat opportunities.
Note: Non-Secretariat UN agencies have their own websites for vacancies and opportunities, and certain
field offices may also have separate websites.
careers.un.org
UN System – Index of links to UN organizations and related organizations.
www.unsceb.org/content/un-system
UN Volunteers – Website for the UN Volunteers program.
www.unv.org
Funding Websites
Finding and Funding International Public Service Opportunities – Report with information on
international public interest jobs.
www.psjd.org/Finding_and_Funding_International_Public_Interest_Opportunities
Foundation Center – Information on funding agencies and foundations. Excellent databases available in
libraries in several cities (including New York) and online.
www.foundationcenter.org
Fulbright Scholar Program – Information on the Fulbright Scholar Program, run by the Department of
State Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs.
www.cies.org
International Human Rights Funders Group – Information on foundations that support human rights
work with a searchable database.
www.ihrfg.org
44
Appendix E: Websites for Domestic Job Searches
Unless otherwise noted, all of the sites below are either free to all or free to NYU students, because NYU
School of Law subscribes to them. The PILC web site,
www.law.nyu.edu/publicinterestlawcenter/careerresources/index.htm, has library pages with links to
general and government job sites.
GENERAL
PSJD, www.psjd.org (HIGHLY RECOMMENDED)
Comprehensive listing of public interest legal positions, including volunteer opportunities, paid summer
positions, and post-graduate positions and fellowships.
Idealist (Action without Borders), www.idealist.org (HIGHLY RECOMMENDED)
Comprehensive listing of public service positions, both legal and non-legal, in over 140 countries. This is
an especially good site for post-graduate job listings. Searchable by subject matter, country, type of
position, and other categories.
National Legal Aid & Defender Association, www.nlada.org/Jobs (HIGHLY RECOMMENDED)
This is the best site for post-graduate jobs in civil legal services organizations and defender organizations.
Other public interest organizations are also listed. Searchable by state.
Foundation Center, www.foundationcenter.org
Provides information about every foundation in the country. Much of this information is free, but some
of it is for paying subscribers only. Job corner contains a database of job openings in foundations,
corporate grant makers, and other nonprofit organizations. Searchable by type of employer and region.
GOVERNMENT
Brad Traverse Jobs, www.bradtraverse.com
Job listings resource for anyone seeking a job on Capitol Hill and off the Hill in the fields of government
relations, public policy and affairs, PR, communications, and political campaigns.
NYU username: [email protected]; password: jobs4nyu
Government Honors & Internship Handbook, arizonahandbooks.com/u/nyupilc
Password: artichoke
Information on federal government post-graduate honors programs and summer internships.
Office of Personnel Management, www.usajobs.gov
The federal government’s official one-stop source for federal jobs (permanent and internships) and
employment information. Searchable by position, salary, and geographic location. Updated every
business day. Can create an “agent” to email particular kinds of opportunities as soon as they are posted.
Note: when searching for federal jobs, you should also check the agency site, as not every job makes
it into USA JOBS.
National Association of Attorneys General (NAAG), www.naag.org
The most comprehensive online site for the latest developments in the offices of the state Attorneys
General throughout the country, including ground-breaking litigation and job opportunities.
Senate, http://www.senate.gov/visiting/common/generic/placement_office.htm
House, www.house.gov/content/jobs
45
Leadership Directories, www.leadershipdirectories.com
Updates and publishes names and contact information for federal, state, and municipal government
agencies. Leadership Directories publish names and contact information for federal, state, and municipal
government agencies. Especially helpful for Hill contact information. You may access the site, without a
username or password, from any Law School computer. Search “leadership directories” on the library
website, and you will be able to follow a link to the online directory.
Roll Call Jobs, www.rcjobs.com
Features jobs in government affairs, lobbying and other positions with organizations that do lobbying and
other work with the federal government.
PSJD, www.psjd.org/resource?ResourceID=59
Government employment resources by state.
LISTSERVES FOR CAMPAIGN AND CAPITOL HILL JOBS
Jobs That Are Left List, Google Group with jobs and internships (only some of which are legal) on
political campaigns and at advocacy organizations, and occasionally information on career and
networking events. groups.google.com/group/jobsthatareleft?hl=en
Emily’s List Job Bank, jobbank.emilyslist.org/user/register, Create a profile, upload you resume, and get
notices about jobs and internships (only some of which are legal) on political campaigns and at advocacy
organizations.
STATE-SPECIFIC JOB SITES
Chicago, l.il.chi.associationcareernetwork.com/JobSeeker/Jobs.aspx?abbr=L.IL.CHI
To help law school graduates search for a public sector career, the Chicago Bar Association Government
Services Committee and the Young Lawyers Section of the Chicago Bar Association of Chicago have
compiled the most current hiring information available on numerous government agencies in Chicago.
Minnesota, www.mnjustice.org
The site of the Minnesota Justice Foundation, this site lists Minnesota legal internships.
New York City (government jobs), www1.nyc.gov/jobs/index.page
SUBJECT-MATTER SPECIFIC
AFL-CIO Lawyers Coordinating Committee, unionlawyers.aflcio.org
Lists positions in unions and public interest law firms that specialize in labor and employment.
Elaw, www.elaw.org
Run by Environmental Law Alliance Worldwide, this site lists organizations worldwide that do
environmental work.
National Fair Housing Advocate, www.fairhousing.com
Lists positions with organizations and governmental agencies dealing with fair housing issues.
46
Appendix F: Tips for Using PSJD
Looking for Summer or Term-time Internships? Organizations may want to hire interns even if they have not circulated an intern job announcement. So we
recommend that you search for Employer Profiles to find employers in the city and issue areas that you are
interested in. PSJD’s database has over 12,000 employer profiles.
Looking for a post-graduate job? The Search for Job Postings feature will help you find postings for fellowships and jobs.
Also, PSJD’s Library of Career Resources includes:
Postgraduate Fellowship Listings and Application Resources – Information about the application
process and a calendar of deadlines for many popular fellowships.
State and Local Government Employment – This searchable, state-by-state database has links to
government employment websites in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and several large cities.
Federal Government Career Resources – This page offers an extensive overview of hiring processes and
application tips. Also the webpage’s key content is distilled into the 2014-2015 Federal Legal Employment
Opportunities Guide, available here: http://www.psjd.org/getResourceFile.cfm?ID=75.
Summer Funding Resources – PSJD has an extensive list of organizations which offer funding
opportunities to support law students in unpaid summer internships.
International Resources – PSJD provides links to and descriptions of several useful resources to help
students and attorneys find international internships and postgraduate jobs.
Don’t forget to visit The PSJD Blog which offers career resources, interviews with public interest leaders,
and public interest news items.
Contact PSJD at [email protected] or 202.296.0076
Excerpted from Plain English for Lawyers (1998), Richard Widick.
Appendix G: “Omit Surplus Words”
Excerpted from Plain English for Lawyers (1998), Richard Widick.
Excerpted from Plain English for Lawyers (1998), Richard Widick.
Excerpted from Plain English for Lawyers (1998), Richard Widick.
Excerpted from Plain English for Lawyers (1998), Richard Widick.
Excerpted from Plain English for Lawyers (1998), Richard Widick.
Excerpted from Plain English for Lawyers (1998), Richard Widick.
Excerpted from Plain English for Lawyers (1998), Richard Widick.
Excerpted from Plain English for Lawyers (1998), Richard Widick.
56
Appendix H: LLM Networking Handout
57
58
Appendix I: Selected NYU LLMs In Public Interest Law
Name LLM graduating
year & country
of first degree
Role / organization Email address
Martin
Brauch
2010, Brazil International Institute for
Sustainable Development, Brazil
Nicolas
Burniat
2001, Belgium Deputy Representative for UN
Women Multi-Country Office
for the Pacific
Fiji
Allen
Clayton-
Greene
2014, Australia Human Rights in China
New York
Niki De Mel 2014, Australia Pro Bono and Special Initiatives
Coordinator
Pro Bono Net
New York
Emmanuelle
Debouverie
2014, Belgium Attorney, Rankin & Sultan
(criminal law defense)
Boston, MA
Ine Declerck 2009, Belgium UN Multidimensional Integrated
Stabilization Mission in the
Central African Republic
(MINUSCA), Political Affairs
Officer, UN Volunteer (UNV)
Elizabeth
Hassan
2012, Nigeria Counsel, OPEC Fund for
International Development
Vienna, Austria
Andrew
Hudson
2006, Australia Executive Director, Crisis Action
New York
Alla
Kazakina
2000, Russia Supervising Attorney, Immigrant
Protection Unit, NYLAG
New York
Shingira
Masanzu
2013, South
Africa
World Bank
Washington DC
Winta
Menghis
2007, Eritrea International Association of
Women Judges
Roxanne
Moore
2014, Australia Indigenous Rights Campaigner
Amnesty International
Australia
59
Name LLM graduating
year & country
of first degree
Role / organization Email address
Habib
Nassar
2005, Lebanon PILnet (Acting co-Executive
Director/Director for Programs,
Training and MENA)
New York
Sukanya
Pillay
1994, Canada Executive Director and General
Counsel
Canadian Civil Liberties
Association
Erika
Sasson
2010, Canada Director of Restorative Practices,
Center for Court Innovation
New York
Madeleine
Sinclair
2009, Canada Program Manager and Legal
Counsel, International Service
for Human Rights
New York
Nastasja
Suhadolnik
2014, Slovenia UN Office of Legal Affairs
New York
Sam Szoke-
Burke
2014, Australia Legal Researcher, Columbia
Center on Sustainable
Investment
New York
Junko
Tadaki
2007, Australia Human Rights Officer, Special
Procedures Branch, Office of the
UN High Commissioner for
Human Rights
Geneva
Dr. Kinga
Tibori-
Szabo, Esq.
2012, Romania Legal Adviser for the Legal
Representative of Victims,
Special Tribunal for Lebanon
(The Hague)
Independent Legal Consultant -
Public International Law,
International Criminal Law
Amos Toh 2012, Singapore Brennan Center for Justice
New York
Christiaan
Van Veen
2014, Netherlands Senior Advisor, UN Special
Rapporteur on Extreme Poverty
and Human Rights (Philip
Alston)
Ramona
Vijeyarasa
2007, Australia Head of Women’s Rights team,
ActionAid
60
Name LLM graduating
year & country
of first degree
Role / organization Email address
Nicaragua
Sophie
Walker
2007, UK Director, Centre for Criminal
Appeals
London, UK
Abby Zeith 2014, Australia Legal Attachée, International
Committee of the Red Cross
(Moving into new position with
the ICRC in Geneva in February)
New York
Cara Faith
Zwibel
2008, Canada Director, Fundamental Freedoms
Program
Canadian Civil Liberties
Association
61
Appendix J: State Bar Eligibility Chart
62
63
64
65
66
Appendix K: UN National Competitive Recruitment Exam: List of Countries
Participating in 2015
See careers.un.org/YPP for more information; the list changes every year.
Algeria
Andorra
Angola
Antigua and Barbuda
Bahrain
Barbados
Belarus
Belize
Bhutan
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Brazil
Brunei Darussalam
Burkina Faso
Cambodia
Central African Republic
Chad
Côte d'Ivoire
Czech Republic
Dominica
Gabon
Gambia
Georgia
Germany
Greece
Guinea (Republic of)
Guinea-Bissau
Indonesia
Iraq
Jamaica
Japan
Kiribati
Kuwait
Kyrgyzstan
Lao People’s Democratic Republic
Latvia
Lesotho
Liberia
Libya
Liechtenstein
Luxembourg
Malaysia
Mauritania
Monaco
Montenegro
Mozambique
Namibia
Netherlands
New Zealand
Norway
Pakistan
Palau
Paraguay
Peru
Poland
Samoa
San Marino
Saudi Arabia
Singapore
Slovakia
Solomon Islands
Somalia
Swaziland
Syrian Arab Republic
Thailand
Togo
Turkey
Tuvalu
United Arab Emirates
United Republic of Tanzania
United States of America
Vanuatu
Vietnam
Zambia